GIRLTALK #takeover Sets Hudson County Girls on a Path Toward Success

07/17/2014

Celebrities and Community Partners Create a Day of Health, Recreation,
Education and Fun to Empower Female Tweens and Teens of the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Hudson County

(Jersey City, NJ) More than 250 Hudson County girls, ages 8 to 16, will take steps to envision
and shape a positive future for themselves when "GIRLTALK #takeover"
comes to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County (BGCHC)Robert T.
Williams Jr. Unit in Jersey City on Wednesday, July 30, 2014.

Launched in 2013 by fashion designer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur
Angela Simmons and real estate executive Kerri Berson Levine, GIRLTALK
#takeover is an informative and interactive day of health, fitness, community
and fashion programs for the female members of the Boys & Girls Clubs
of America. The program, which will travel the country to local Boys &
Girls Clubhouses, provides an open forum where female Boys & Girls
Clubs members are surrounded by young, successful businesswomen and role
models who expose the attendees to alternative activities that are available
to them within their city.

"Impressionable young girls are not receiving the right messages or
being exposed to positive influences, particularly through the media.
GIRLTALK #takeover fills this void by creating an entertaining event in
a comfortable setting with role models and professionals delivering important
messages to encourage the girls' full potential and help shape them
for a healthy and creative future," said Angela Simmons.

According to a report from the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development,
the ages of 10 to 14 are a crucial turning point in a person's life
trajectory and offer the best opportunity to intervene and set at-risk
children on a path toward healthy behavior. Girls face additional challenges
in overcoming stereotypes and identifying with role models whose success
can inspire them. GIRLTALK #takeover is designed to directly address those
challenges, providing a safe space for young women to discuss issues relating
to their health and wellbeing.

Simmons and Levine are organizing the events at local Boys & Girls
Clubhouses with the participation of several national corporations, vendors
and community partners that provide valuable health, fitness, education
and arts programs. The Jersey City program will provide health and wellness
presentations from Jersey City Medical Center, a Barnabas Health facility,
the national health sponsor of GIRLTALK #takeover; a healthy cooking demonstration
by Chef Sam Talbot, a "Top Chef" finalist, in association with
the Beth Garden at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's
Hospital of New Jersey, a Barnabas Health facility; and a female fitness
program with Newark Yoga Movement and World Mi-Bo Soul Power Empowerment.

"Before creating GIRLTALK #takeover, Angela and I spent a day at the
Boys & Girls Clubs in Newark, NJ, speaking with the girls about the
issues they perceived to be impacting them and to learn more about what
they love to do," said Kerri Berson Levine of The Fidelco Group.
"We took that feedback and designed an experience using fashion,
beauty, health, fitness, arts, music and more to expose the girls to opportunities
that exist in their neighborhoods while they're having fun."

"GIRLTALK #takeover will empower girls to realize their full potential
as productive, responsible and caring citizens by developing a strong
healthy self-concept, a strong belief in their self-worth and sense about
their future. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County is proud to
host such a worthwhile event," said Gary Greenberg, CEO of the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Hudson County.

Along with the health and wellness presentations, the girls will be able
to participate in a variety of enjoyable activities including a fashion
show and hair styling, makeup and manicures, courtesy of Essie, Suzana
Hallili makeup, Shawn Melvin hair styling and Sa'Rah hair styling.

Liberty Science Center, Educational Arts Team, MyMedia, and New Jersey
Performing Arts Center will introduce the girls to year-round cultural
and educational activities available to them in their community at little
or no cost.

The entirety of GIRLTALK #takeover is the product of in-kind donations.
Contributions were arranged by the program founders; with additional partnerships
arranged by brand consultant, Nekeda Newell Hall.

ABOUT GIRL TALK GIRLTALK #takeover provides what young girls want - exposure to beauty
and fashion - with what they need – access to health information
and connections to neighborhood opportunities - that will offset issues
these girls may face such as poverty, violence, and teen sex. The program
was created by Angela Simmons, fashion designer, philanthropist, entrepreneur
and daughter of famous hip hop artist Joseph "Run" Simmons of
Run-D.M.C. and Kerri Berson Levine, a real estate executive with several
projects in the New York metropolitan area.

ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF HUDSON COUNTY The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County has been in the forefront
of youth development for 119 years. We are dedicated to enabling all young
people – especially those who need us most – to reach their
full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens of the communities
that we serve.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach
their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today,
nearly 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve some 4 million young people
through membership and community outreach. Clubs can be found throughout
the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing young
people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs
conducted by trained, professional staff.

Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration;
community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and
life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach.
In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives.
National headquarters are located in Atlanta.